Sports Bulletin

Islamabad (Sports News): English pair Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will be in the middle for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad.Illingworth will take charge of his second consecutive Men’s T20 World Cup Final, having stood alongside Chris Gaffaney in 2024.It continues Illingworth's impressive recent record of appointments, having also stood in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Final and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Final.He is joined by compatriot Wharf, who will oversee his first senior ICC World Cup Final.Wharf previously stood at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 events before he joined the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires last year.The pair, who were together in the middle for New Zealand’s semi-final victory over South Africa on Wednesday, are supported by third umpire Allahuddien Paleker and fourth umpire Adrian Holdstock, while the match referee is Andy Pycroft.South African Paleker was elevated to the Elite Panel of Umpires alongside Wharf in March 2025 and has stood in six matches during the tournament.ICC Match Officials:On-field Umpires: Richard Illingworth and Alex WharfThird Umpire: Allahuddien PalekerFourth Umpire: Adrian HoldstockMatch Referee: Andy Pycroft

Peshawar (Sports Report): Former Pakistan internationals Salman Butt and Aiman Anwer will be joined by Ali Younis, Shah Faisal, Raja Asad and Imranullah in the commentary panel.  The captains’ trophy shoot took place at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on Friday. Saad Nasim, who is standing in as captain for Hussain Talat, will lead the defending champions Lahore Blues.He said, “It is going to be a challenging task to defend our title given the number of exciting and talented players across all the 10 teams. We also have a good blend of young and experienced players.We are also looking forward to playing T20 cricket at this new venue. I’m sure the local fans here in Peshawar will turn up in big numbers and make the tournament more exciting.”

Peshawar (Sports Report): The 12-day ABS Developers National T20 Cup is set to begin from Saturday at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar with the 10 regional teams vying for the title currently held by Lahore Blues. The defending champions are drawn in Group B alongside Abbottabad, Karachi Blues, Multan and Sialkot regions.The tournament will kick off with two Group A fixtures as Lahore Whites will take on Peshawar in the game starting at 4.15pm, while Faisalabad will be up against Karachi Whites at 9.15pm. The fifth team in Group A is Bahawalpur.A prize pot of PKR 8.5 million will be up for grabs as the winners will be awarded PKR five million and runners up PKR 2.5 million. Best batter, bowler, wicket-keeper and player of the tournament will pocket PKR 100,000 each. Player of the match will get PKR 25,000, while player of the final will get PKR 50,000.Karachi Blues and Bahawalpur are the two teams who have advanced to this tournament by playing the final of the 10-team Qualifier event held in Lahore from 14 to 24 February.Bahawalpur topped their group after winning three out of four matches and beat the Blues in the final by 59 runs. Karachi Blues, meanwhile, won all their four matches before falling short in the final.

Lahore (Staff Report):The HBL Pakistan Super League has announced that nominations for the 11th edition of HBL PSL Hamaray Heroes are now open. Fans from across the country can submit their nominations through an online form (available here) until 3pm on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.Hamaray Heroes, an initiative of the HBL PSL, was first introduced in the fifth edition of the HBL PSL in 2020 and has since become a huge success in a short span of time. The initiative will return for the sixth consecutive year, with the 11th edition set to be bigger and better than previous editions as eight teams feature in the league for the first time.The 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League will commence on 26 March, with defending champions Lahore Qalandars taking on Hyderabad Kingsmen in the opening match at Gaddafi Stadium.Through the Hamaray Heroes initiative, the Pakistan Cricket Board recognises and celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society and have played a role in enhancing the positive image of Pakistan.Some of the notable personalities who were recognised during HBL PSL Hamaray Heroes initiative include, Late Ali Sadpara (Record-breaking mountaineer), Arshad Nadeem (Gold medal in Paris Olympics in javelin), Arslan Ash (Professional E-Sports player), Inam Butt (Wrestler and Gold medalist in CW Games), Kiran Khan (Olympic swimmer), Mohammad Wasim (Boxer) and Dr Mariam Sultana (First Pakistani to do PhD in Astrophysics) The final list of nominees for Hamaray Heroes will be reviewed by a PCB panel tasked with shortlisting candidates who will be recognised during matches of the forthcoming HBL PSL 11.The PCB will present shortlisted candidates with cash awards during HBL PSL matches, while fans will also be able to watch short documentaries highlighting their achievements and inspiring life stories across HBL PSL digital platforms as well as during live match broadcasts.Fans can nominate personalities from various walks of life including, including but not limited to sports (other than cricket), education, healthcare, art, culture, music, social work, social entrepreneurship and technology. The initiative uses the reach and platform of the HBL PSL to acknowledge and celebrate Pakistanis who are making a meaningful difference in society.Nomination guidelines:• Individuals, groups, organisations and businesses can be nominated in multiple categories, depending on eligibility• Nominees must be citizens of Pakistan, individuals of Pakistani heritage, residents of Pakistan or organisations registered in Pakistan.• Nominees must not be employees of the PCB, employees of direct suppliers of commercial products or services to PCB, current employees or members of HBL PSL Hamaray Heroes or employees of presenting partners/sponsors of the initiative.• All submitted nominations and supporting material will remain the property of the PCB and will not be returned• The judges’ panel decision will be final and no further correspondence will be entertained• Submission of a nomination does not guarantee a place on the final shortlist or receipt of an awad

Six uncapped players selected for the three-match ODI seriesLahore (Sports Report):The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 15-member ODI squad for the three-match series with Bangladesh scheduled to take place in Bangladesh from 11 to 15 March. All three ODIs will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side, with six uncapped players included in the squad. The uncapped players are Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.Among them, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood and Shamyl Hussain were part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad that played against England Lions in Abu Dhabi recently.15-member squad:Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl HussainSeries schedule:March 8 – Pakistan arrivalMarch 10 – Practice March 11 – First ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, DhakaMarch 13 – Second ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, DhakaMarch 15 – Third ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

Islamabad (Sports Desk):Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will be the on-field umpires for the first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand on Wednesday.Illingworth was in the middle for South Africa’s victory at this stage two years ago, when the Proteas dismissed Afghanistan for 56 and won by nine wickets, while Wharf oversaw New Zealand’s win over the same opposition in the group stage this time around.The pair will be joined in Kolkata by Nitin Menon as third umpire, with Rod Tucker in place as fourth umpire and Javagal Srinath appointed as match referee.The second semi-final between India and England, in Mumbai, will be overseen by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker.The two nations met at the same stage in 2024, a match India won by 68 runs, with Gaffaney also in place for that one. In this competition so far, he has been in the middle for India’s matches against South Africa and the West Indies.Paleker has taken control of two England matches, against the West Indies and Scotland, as well as India’s victory over the Netherlands.Adrian Holdstock will be the third umpire in Mumbai, with Paul Reiffel the fourth umpire. Andy Pycroft is the match referee.Semi-Final 1: Kolkata, Wednesday 4 March 2026South Africa v New ZealandOn-Field Umpires: Richard Illingworth & Alex WharfThird Umpire: Nitin MenonFourth Umpire: Rod TuckerMatch Referee: Javagal SrinathSemi-Final 2: Mumbai, Thursday 5 March 2026India v EnglandOn-Field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney & Allahuddien PalekerThird Umpire: Adrian HoldstockFourth Umpire: Paul ReiffelMatch Referee: Andy Pycroft

 Abu Dhabi (Sports News):The second 50-over match between Pakistan Shaheens and England Lions scheduled to be played today at the Oval Stadium in Abu Dhabi will not take place.The decision has been taken following advice from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in view of the escalating situation in Abu Dhabi. There will be no practice session as well and the team has been advised to remain indoors.The safety and security of the players and support staff remains the utmost priority. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in constant contact with the team management and players and the wellbeing of the squad is paramount above all other considerations.The PCB is also in regular contact with the ECB and continues to closely monitor the ever-changing situation. As soon as the Middle East airspace reopens, the PCB will decide whether to bring the Shaheens squad back to Pakistan or continue with the series, considering the prevailing security scenario.

Lahore (Sports Report):A total of 27 women’s players are set to take part in a skills training camp from 7 to 14 March at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced today.The camp is being organised keeping in mind the preparations for the upcoming National women’s T20 tournament, home series against Zimbabwe women, away T20I tri-series in Ireland and the subsequent ICC women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.The players will attend the camp in supervision of the current senior women’s team coaches led by team mentor Wahab Riaz. During the camp, the players will not only hone their skills with the help of the coaches but also work on their fitness for upcoming challenges and take part in scenario based and practice matches.Pakistan’s ODI squad, currently playing the three-match series in South Africa, will return to Pakistan on 2 March.The list of the 27 players is as under:Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Parvaiz, Eyman Fatima, Saira Jabeen, Gull Rukh, Hafsa Khalid, Eman Naseer, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Rameen Shamim, Umm-e-Hani, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sundhu, Momina Riasat, Anosha Nasir, Ayesha Bilal, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Diana Baig and Waheeda Akhtar.

Centurion (Sports News):Pakistan women were bowled out for 345 in pursuit of a 362-run target in the second ODI as South Africa gained a 2-0 lead in the series here at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday night. Pakistan registered their highest ever ODI total surpassing the previous 335-3 against Ireland women in 2022 in Lahore. The third ODI of the series will take place on Sunday, 1 March at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban.Pakistan’s spirited effort was led by fluent half-centuries from Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas and skipper Fatima Sana. Syeda Aroob Shah and Diana Baig also chipped in with valuable contributions lower down the order as the visitors threatened to set the record for the highest ever successful chase in women’s ODIs. At the start of the chase, Pakistan lost Muneeba Ali in second over and Sidra Amin in sixth with 24 runs on the board. Opening batter Sadaf Shamas then knitted an 87-ball 97-run partnership for the third wicket with top-scorer Ayesha Zafar (75, 68b, 8x4s), who scored her second consecutive half-century.Sadaf departed on the penultimate delivery of the 20th over after getting to her second ODI half-century, scoring 61 off 62 including nine fours. Sune Luus provided South Africa the vital breakthrough. Ayesha then combined with Natalia Parvaiz (27, 32b, 3x4s) to add 76 runs for the fourth wicket off 60 balls as Pakistan were 197-3, requiring another 165 off 122 balls. At this point, South Africa were brought back into the contest by Nondumiso Shangase and player of the match Annerie Drecksen. Shangase removed Ayesha and Aliya Zafar on the last two balls of the 30th over, while Drecksen got rid of Natalia in the subsequent over to reduce Pakistan to 199-6. Skipper Fatima Sana then took it upon herself to continue the momentum as she combined with Syeda Aroob Shah to add 81 runs off 65 balls for the seventh wicket. Fatima’s 52, her fouth ODI half-century, came off 36 balls on the back of six fours and one six before falling in the 42nd over with 280 runs on the board.  With 82 required off 49 balls, Aroob (40, 44b, 4x4s) knitted a 34-run alliance with Diana Baig before to keep Pakistan in the hunt. South Africa again managed to struck twice in an over with Nadine de Klerk eking out the scalps of well-set Aroob and Nashra Sundhu in 47th over. Diana Baig and Sadia Iqbal then got into the act as Pakistan were faced with an uphill task of scoring 46 off the last three overs. The duo hit a four each in the 48th over to take 12 runs, while Diana hit a six and a four against de Klerk in the penultimate over as the visitors needed 23 runs off the final six balls. Diana remained unbeaten on 38 off 25, her career best score, with the help of five fours and a six as Pakistan were bowled out for 345 in 49.5 overs. For South Africa, Dercksen bagged three for 59, while Shangase (5-0-30-2), de Klerk (9-0-66-2) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (9.5-1-68-2) picked up two wickets each. Earlier, South Africa posted their second-highest total in WODIs after being asked to bat first. They were aided by No.5 batter Dercksen, who top-scored with a 68-ball 90, hitting six fours and four sixes after walking in to bat at 118-3 in 18.5 overs. Opening batter Tazmin Brits scored 77 off 62 balls, featuring ten fours and two sixes, after losing her Laura Wolvaardt for 20 as the duo put on 55 off the first 8.4 overs. Pakistan struck in 16th and 19th over as Faye Tunnicliffe and Brits departed to spinners Aroob and Nashra, respectively.At this juncture, Luus (57, 67b, 4x4s) and Dercksen shared a vital 102-run stand to take the score to 220-4 in 37.1 overs with the former pinned leg-before by Aroob. An over later Sadia Iqbal castled Sinalo Jafta to 234-5 in 39.2 overs. While Fatima denied Dercksen her second ODI century, Nadine de Klerk (49, 26b, 7x4s, 1x6), batting at no.8, and Chloe Tryon (37, 23b, 5x4s, 1x6) at 9, went all guns blazing as South Africa ransacked 127 runs off the last 62 balls of their innings. For Pakistan, Sadia, Fatima and Aroob picked up two wickets each. Scores in brief:2nd ODI - South Africa women beat Pakistan women by 16 runs at SuperSport Park, CenturionSouth Africa 361-8, 50 overs (Annerie Dercksen 90, Tazmin Brits 77, Sune Luus 57, Nadine de Klerk 49, Chloe Tryon 37, Laura Wolvaardt 20; Syeda Aroob Shah 2-49, Sadia Iqbal 2-65, Fatima Sana 2-72)Pakistan 345 all out, 49.5 overs (Ayesha Zafar 75, Sadaf Shamas 61, Fatima Sana 52, Syeda Aroob Shah 40, Diana Baig 38 not out, Natalia Pervaiz 27; Annerie Dercksen 3-59, Nondumiso Shangase 2-30, Nadine de Klerk 2-66, Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-68)

 Lahore (Sports Report): The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the completion of a successful bidding process of HBL Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL) Brand Partnership rights for a four-year cycle (2026-2029), starting from HBL PSL 11.The Brand Partnership includes six category rights along with one umpire branding right.Prior to the opening of the financial bid, the PCB had announced the reserve price for the rights in line with its transparent and robust bidding process. Trans Group FZE exceeded the reserve price, securing the Brand Partnership rights.The record deal reflects a 1,226 per cent increase in brand partnership value compared to the inaugural edition of the HBL PSL which commenced in 2016.Salman Naseer, CEO PSL:“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the Brand Partnership rights sale, which have grown remarkably by 1,226 per cent since the start of the league. This growth is a strong validation of the HBL PSL brand, its competitive quality and its increasing appeal to cricket fans around the world.“We are grateful to Trans Group for stepping up in the New Era, shattering past records and standing firmly by the HBL PSL for a decade. We all are eagerly awaiting commencement of the next edition to begin across the country with eight teams participating in the league for the first time across two new venues.”Rao Omar Hashim, Group Director Trans Group FZE:“TransGroup FZE is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Cricket Board as we enter a New Era of the HBL Pakistan Super League through the Category Sponsorship rights for 2026–2029. From the very inception of the HBL PSL, TransGroup FZE has believed in the league’s vision to transform Pakistan’s cricketing and commercial landscape and this milestone reflects our continued commitment to its long-term success.“The HBL PSL has grown into a globally respected property, driven by passionate fans, world-class players and a forward-looking strategy from the PCB. TransGroup FZE remains aligned with the PCB’s ambitions to strengthen Pakistan cricket through innovation, stability, global collaboration and we look forward to contributing meaningfully to the continued growth of the HBL PSL in the years ahead.”